Academic Planning Council

 

UNO supports the Board of Regents' Resolution that commits the university to providing each student all assistance necessary to help him or her graduate within four years of entering, provided the student has appropriate high school preparation, pursues a course of study that is intended for four-year completion, and adheres to prudent practices in pursuing a degree. For the complete resolution see:

Board of Regents Resolution - 4 year guaranteed degree

 

Collegiate Learning Assessment
Frequently Asked Questions

What is the CLA?

The Collegiate Learning Assessment is a tool to measure important learning outcomes in college undergraduate education. Students take a test to evaluate their written, critical thinking, analytical reasoning, and problem solving skills.

The test establishes a baseline in learning and skills of UNO students. The report of test results sent to students and to UNO will report that students are doing better, worse, or about the same compared to what is expected for their entering competencies (or entering test scores). A similar test with seniors allows UNO to compare freshmen to senior results.

Where will the test be administered?

The confirmation letter you will receive will tell you which computer lab to go to on the UNO campus.

What is a CLA Scholar?

A CLA Scholar is anyone who participates in this assessment project during their academic career and completes the test.

Who does the CLA?

The CLA is sponsored by a prominent national education organization called the Council for Aid to Education. UNO supervises the test which is set up through online access by the Council for Aid to Education. Scores are confidential and are used to establish national norms. Students can get their individual score on the test from UNO.

How is CLA information used?

The University of Nebraska supports assessment of students to provide information back to faculty about areas that need to be improved. The information provided to the student also allows them to compare themselves to others and see where they excel or need improvement.

How is the CLA administered?

The CLA test is completed in a UNO computer lab over the Internet.

What kind of research is this?

This is assessment research for the purpose of improving learning experiences. This test is a direct assessment of student learning. It is not an intelligence test.

Does the CLA impact grades or a student’s academic record at UNO?

There is no impact on grades in courses taken or the academic career of the student. The students may use the information to see how they compare and where they may improve in certain areas.

What is an example of a test question?

Students respond in a real-life manner by, for example, writing a memorandum to their boss analyzing the pros and cons of alternative solutions, anticipating possible problems and solutions to them, recommending what the company should do, and supporting their opinions and recommendations.

The CLA uses two types of essay questions:
The 30-minute “break-an-argument” type prompts an argument and asks students to critique it, including their analysis of the validity of the author’s arguments.

The 45-minute make-an-argument type essay asks students to present a “point-of-view” about a topic.

Where can I find further information about the Collegiate Learning Assessment?

The Council for Aid to Education provides additional information about the CLA Project
at their website:

http://www.cae.org/content/pro_collegiate.htm